Sunday, September 21, 2008

Sourdough, At Last

I've always wanted to make sourdough bread. I carried around a sourdough cookbook from place to place all my life, never quite getting around to using it. In the big purge before we left New Hampshire to move to New Mexico, a lot of my old cookbooks went to the neighborhood Swap Shop, including the sourdough one.

However, I came across a photo of some beautiful loaves made by a southern cook and I just had to try out her recipe. Please go to Judy's great website, Recipes from a Southern Country Cook, listen to the great food music, and try out her recipes for Sourdough Starter and Sourdough Bread. When you are finished there, you can check out her other blog, Living on the Other Side of the Hill, which features more great music. Sometimes I just tune in for the music as I work around the house.

I made a nice batch of Judy's sourdough starter, and in five days when it was all ready I baked my first loaves of bread (seen in the photo below). Here's something I didn't realize--once you've made your batch of starter, using yeast and a couple of other things, you never have to use any more yeast. Given the way things are going with the economy these days, I'll be glad to not have to buy more of those little jars of dry yeast, which can cost up to $7.00 at some stores around here.

4 comments:

Thank you so much for your kind comments about my blog. Your bread looks just wonderful and this is such an easy recipe. Anytime you don't feel like making it, just discard a cup and make it next time. The bread makes wonderful gifts, too. I enjoyed your blog as well and will be back again. Note: I am now buying flour in the 25 lb. bags so I will have it on hand and it is cheaper that way!

Your pictures have made me hungry so I guess it's time for breakfast! Great post! I baked all the bread for my family for years and still do it once in a while, but I may be doing a lot more of it in the days to come.

First of all, thanks to Judy for so generously sharing your sourdough secrets.

And Clair, thank you for the link to Judy's site. Being a San Francisco baby, I've missed real authentic sourdough french bread ever since I moved away from my home state. Remember daddy bringing home a loaf of fresh frenchbread every Friday night AND a WHOLE CUBE of real butter? Good times, good times......

I can enthusiastically testify that your bread's got IT; and IT is deeeeelicious!

I can't wait to start my own. Got any left over potato flakes? hmmmmm?

About Me

Who knew that retirement would be so much fun? I loved working with kids and books and technology as a school librarian, but now I love having time to get together with friends, and to enjoy walking, going to the gym, taking photos, reading, researching, blogging, knitting, and gardening.